Russell Hoke

Russell Hoke, a baritone from Chicago IL., is very excited to be singing with Cedar Rapids Opera. Having taken a non traditional path into his career he studied privately with some of the finest singers and conductors in the US and Europe and finds the works of Verdi and Puccini a particularly comfortable fit for his instrument. Discovering opera in his early 30s made for an interesting journey to the stage. Holding many jobs, from firefighter and paramedic, mortgage processor, sales, manufacturing, and even gravedigging, Russell finally found his calling when he was heard by his first teacher and was told that a career in music would be within his reach. Now, having sung in Dulcamara in Italy, the villains in Les Contes D’Hoffman in Brazil, and tours in the U.K. and across the U.S., Russell Hoke will proudly join the cast at Cedar Rapids Opera.